"Wear It" Lifejacket campaign kicks off National Safe Boating Week.

The Coast Guard Ninth District will be supporting Wear Your Life Jacket to Work Day on Friday.The annual event, hosted by the National Safe Boating Council (NSBC) serves as a fun, educational element just prior to National Safe Boating Week, May 19-25, the official launch of the 2018 Safe Boating Campaign. Educating the boating public about the safety and comfort of life jackets has been a main focus of the campaign.U.S. Coast Guard statistics show that drowning was the reported cause of death in four out of every five recreational boating fatalities nationwide in 2016. In the Great Lakes, where lifejacket use was known, approximately 97% percent of those who drowned were not wearing life jackets versus the national average of 83%.“Visiting the Great Lakes is a once in a lifetime experience; don’t let it be your last," said Mike Baron, recreational boating safety specialist for the Ninth Coast Guard District. "Always wear your life jacket.”The National Safe Boating Council is asking all participants to take a picture of themselves in their life jacket while at work and post it to the Ready, Set, Wear It Facebook page or submit it directly to the NSBC at outreach@safeboatingcouncil.org. Participants are also encouraged to tweet their picture using #RSWI2018.

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